Research synthesis of mental remedies for people affected by the civil unrest in the southernmost provinces

Authors

  • วัฒนะ พรหมเพชร Department of Psychology and Guidance, Faculty of Education, Prince of Songkla University, Pattani Campus
  • ประณีต ส่งวัฒนา

Keywords:

Civil unrest in the Southern border provinces of Thailand, mental remedy, people affected by civil unrest

Abstract

          The purpose of this documentary research was to synthesize research studies regarding mental remedies of people affected by civil unrests in the southernmost provinces. The documents and research reports using relevant keywords, conducted between 2004 and 2013, were selected. Content analysis was used focusing on mental health problems, remedy methods, healers, affected people, and healing results.

           A total of 24 documents and research reports were synthesized classified into two categories of mental remedies: basic and specific.   Regarding a basic mental remedy, most of the affected people were widows, orphans, teachers, and students. Various emotional and affective reactions were found, such as being frightened, fear, angry, mistrust, anxious, hopeless, and sad. Mental healers were public health staff, scholars, and volunteers. The most common remedy method was a group process related to prevention and promotion of mental health. For specific mental remedy, most of the affected people were widows and orphans. Chief complaints were PTSD and depression.
An interdisciplinary team of healers were formed and the focus was on therapies and rehabilitations of which CBT was a method often used. Moreover, both primary and specific mental healers were challenged with working in the civil unrest areas in terms of insecurity, different languages and beliefs, poor systems of healing, and lacks of specialists and budgets. However, advocating mental remedies became successful because of several factors including staff’s experience, budgets, good management, and community involvements. It was found that about 61-100 percent of affected people received mental remedies and more than 66 percent of the symptoms were reduced. So, mental remedies for people affected by civil unrests in the Southernmost provinces should emphasize a basic mental remedy by building the capacity on mental remedy via community network and continuing support of academic knowledge and budget from the government.

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Published

2018-06-30

How to Cite

พรหมเพชร ว., & ส่งวัฒนา ป. (2018). Research synthesis of mental remedies for people affected by the civil unrest in the southernmost provinces. Journal of Liberal Arts Prince of Songkla University, 10(1), 352–380. Retrieved from https://so03.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/journal-la/article/view/132088

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Research Articles